Bracket Banter 2/24, and The Weekend Preview:

From a seed list standpoint, there hasn't been a ton of movement in and out of the bracket recently, more so seeing a TON of movement along seed lines.

• TX A&M is up to my #1 8 seed, and UK is now also an 8.

• Rutgers is down to my final 10.

• USC hanging on by a thread to the final spot.

• Memphis is above the L4I for the first time in a month.

• 1-2 lines stay relatively stable.

• 3 line continues with some movement around the #12 overall.

• 4 line is a revolving door at 15/16.

• Xavier/UVA are both down to the 5 line with Q3 losses this week.

• Northwestern stays a 6 after crumbling late vs. Illinois.

• Illinois is up to a 6.

• Arkansas' metrics are keeping them up.

• FAU's not safe but continues to be a 10.

• Pitt's metrics/Q4 loss really weighing them down; safe for now.

Weeknd Preview: We have an adoption party for a family member Saturday early afternoon, and then FC Cincinnati kicks their season off at 7:30, and we have season tickets, so basketball's going to be watched mostly from my phone Saturday. I'll stay as up-to-date as I can, and I won't miss anything on Sunday. It's ALMOST Champ Week!!

Friday:

• Xavier @ Seton Hall, both teams need this one; SHU's looking to get back into the bubble picture, while X needs to right the ship some.

• Nevada @ Fresno State: Wolfpack can't drop this to stay on my 9 line.

Saturday:

• UConn @ St. Johns: noon, CBS. UConn's a 4 and pushing toward a 3; losing today pushes closer to the 5 line.

• Creighton @ Villanova: Noon, FOX. Can Villanova keep the momentum up, this time at home? Creighton is a 6 and needs to win to push toward the 5 line.

• Oklahoma @ Iowa State: Noon, ESPNU. The Sooners need multiple wins to get back toward the bracket. Can they get one in Ames? I doubt it, ISU needs this, or they fall to a 5.

• TCU @ Texas Tech: Noon, ESPN2. TTU could, in theory, jump into the bracket with a victory over TCU. They're piling up the Q1 wins in a hurry. TCU needs this one, or there's some danger of falling toward the 7 line.

• Clemson @ NC State, Noon, ACCNX NC State's right in that 8-10 grouping that's super close. Clemson's well out of the field. NC State needs to roll in this one.

• Michigan State @ Iowa, Noon/ESPN. This one should be fun. Both of these teams are on my 7 line, and this one should help gain some separation between the two.

• Missouri @ Georgia, 1 PM/SECN. Mizzou needs to handle Georgia in Athens or will fall to the 9 line, if not the 10, because of how close these teams are.

• Arkansas @ Alabama, 2 PM/ESPN2. If Alabama plays like they did vs. South Carolina this week, Arkansas may steal this one. Alabama's #2 overall right now. Arkansas could move all the way to the 7 line with a win.

• Arizona State @ Arizona, 2 PM/CBS. This is the chance for the Sun Devils to get back into the bracket picture. Arizona, however, can play closer to the 1 seed window.

• Texas @ Baylor, 2 PM/ESPN. This is the battle for #5 overall.

• Kansas State @ Oklahoma State, 2 PM/ESPNU. Another HUGE matchup; I look for OKST to be very competitive and could move toward the 10 line, but possibly out with a loss.

• UTEP @ FAU, 2 PM/ESPN+. FAU can't afford to trip up again this year.

• Texas A&M @ Mississippi State, 3:30 PM/SECN. HUGE game, the Aggies are super hot right now, but the Bulldogs need this one and are at home. It should be close.

• WVU @ Kansas, 4 PM/ESPN. Kansas is pushing toward the #1 overall (I have them there coming into this one), but WVU can't afford to lose much. It should be a very entertaining game; I like KU here.

• Florida State @ Miami, 4 PM/ESPN2. Miami rolls here and stays on the 4 line.

• Auburn @ Kentucky, 4 PM/CBS. Suddenly, this is a matchup where Kentucky's higher seeded than Auburn. I think the Wildcats will win this one and keep securing a bid to the bracket.

• Syracuse @ Pitt, 5 PM/ACCN. This environment should be electric. If I remember correctly, Boheim called Pitt cheaters at a presser recently; I bet that the entire arena remembers that one. Pitt's in the First 4 Byes but is relatively safe, their metrics are low, and they have a bad loss; best to win this one.

• Virginia @ UNC, 6 PM/ESPN. It's put up or shut up time for the Tar Heels, and in comes a reeling UVA team. If UNC wants to make a push close to the bracket, here's their chance to do just that.

• South Carolina @ Tennessee, 6 PM/SECN. The Gamecocks fell just short of beating Alabama this week. Can they get it done vs. a drought-prone Tennessee team? Tennessee stays on my 3 line now, but this could push them to a 4.

• Florida @ Vanderbilt, 6 PM/ESPN2. The Gators must win to keep their bubble hopes alive. Vandy is AW or nothing.

• Boise State @ San Jose State, 7 PM. This one is a must-win for Boise. If they drop this, they're really hurting their bubble position and would likely fall to the 11 line.

• Indiana @ Purdue, 7:30 PM/FOX. This is a HUGE matchup. Mackey will be ROCKIN, and both teams are going to really want this. This is the only path to a 3 seed for IU, but they could get there. Edey vs. TJD is going to be AMAZING to watch.

• DePaul @ Marquette, 7:30PM/FS1. Marquette can basically wrap up a protected seed and a BE regular season title with a win here.

• Houston @ ECU, 8 PM/ESPN2. I look for the Cougars to roll.

• USC @ Utah, 8 PM/ESPNU. Must-win for the Trojans to stay in the bracket.

• Virginia Tech @ Duke, 8 PM/ESPN. VT is reeling and needs an AQ. Duke = lock with a win.

• Saint Mary's @ Gonzaga, 10PM/ESPN. This should be FUN. Tickets for as low as $813 are being advertised on ESPN. CRAZY. I love it. Game of the day. Zags are a 3 coming in, and SMC is a 5.

• SDSU @ New Mexico, 10 PM/CBSSN. The Pit will be chaotic, as always! UNM could make a jump toward the bracket with a win. SDSU comes in as a 6 seed.

• Oregon @ Oregon State, 10 PM/Pac-12. Oregon can't lose again to get in.

Sunday:

• Northwestern @ Maryland, Noon/BTN. Can the Wildcats rebound? 6 seed coming in. The Terp's are hot, and a 7 coming in.

• Illinois @ Ohio State, Noon/CBS. Can Ohio State win another game? Illinois is coming off of an emotional comeback win over Northwestern this week, which could make it interesting. Illinois is fighting for a 6 seed right now.

• Providence @ Georgetown, 12:30FOX. The Friars have to run the Hoya gauntlet one more time. Survive and advance. LOL

• Cincinnati @ Memphis, 2 PM/ESPN2. This is a dangerous Cincinnati team right now, who could pose problems for Memphis. Memphis can't afford a loss to anyone not named Houston, especially at home.

• Wisconsin @ Michigan, 2 PM/CBS. The Wolverines are hovering around the bubble and could throw a big wrench in the bubble with a win over bubble foe Wisconsin.

• UCLA @ Colorado, 4 PM/CBS. Can Colorado do it again? UCLA's been able to avoid a bad loss this year.

• Rutgers @ Penn State, 6:30 PM/BTN. Penn State is in with a win here. Rutgers may end up in Dayton if they lose this one. It'll be a great game at the Bryce Jordan Center.